Islamabad-A project to extend the Metro Bus from Peshawar Morr to the Islamabad International Airport is going to miss another deadline of December 2018, which was earlier set for its completion.

The project is facing continuous delays since August 2017, which was initially slated as its inauguration date by the previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Sources inside the National Highway Authority (NHA) informed that the liabilities on account of this project surged up to 1.5 billion due to which the pace of development work on ground is quite low.

When contacted, the Project Director Metro Bus Project Samiulla Chattah informed that almost ninety percent work including the corridor and structures is completed while the finishing work on the metro stations still remains.

He however accepted that the project would not be completed before the end of December as there are inadequate funds for the project since June 2018.

“We need only three months to complete the project, if we have an uninterrupted flow of funds”, he maintained.

The 25.6 kilometre-long extension to the Islamabad Metro Bus project was approved in January 2017 to link the new Islamabad International Airport (NIIA) to the capital. The project was to be completed in August 2017 but was further extended to December 2017 and August 2018 while its last deadline was December 2018.

The project includes the construction of a dedicated, two-lane, signal-free corridor — 9.60 – 10.40 meter wide sections on the ground and in trenches and 22.50 – 23.70 meter at stations.

Moreover, a three-lane carriageway with shoulders on either side of the metro corridor from the Golra Morr Interchange to the Grand Trunk (GT) Road Interchange are also its part to ensure the free flow of traffic and turnings along with the construction of flyovers and underpasses on existing roads and allied works.

On April 12, 2017, the ECNEC had approved the project at a rationalised cost of Rs16.428 billion against the proposed cost of Rs16.86 billion.

An amount of Rs.12.22 billion was spent on said project in financial year 2017-18 while remaining Rs.4.22 billion was allocated in Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of 2018-19.

However, the interim government and subsequently the incumbent government did not release the funds that were otherwise allocated in the budget. Resultantly, all ongoing projects including Metro Bus project missed its planned progress timeline.

Besides that, it is also unclear that who will operate the bus service once the structure is completed as both National Highway Authority and Capital Development Authority (CDA) are shifting the burden on each other—citing the reason that to operate a bus service is not their mandate.

The Punjab Metro Bus Authority is running a similar bus service on the Rawalpindi-Islamabad route, but the authority refused, saying it is financially non-viable.

Newly-constructed building at Islamabad International Airport starts caving in

By Mohammad Asghar | 12/15/2018

RAWALPINDI: After the customs cargo (airfreight unit) building at the Islamabad International Airport started caving in, the authorities have decided to shift all staff and workers to an alternative place.

Initially, small cracks appeared on the walls along with a leakage from the drain in the office of a senior officer and other rooms but the cracks started increasing day by day.

A portion of the building is now caving in.

Senior officers of the customs department brought the issue to the notice of the airport manager and the project director of the Islamabad International Airport intimating them that the building was no longer safe for those working there.

Additional Collector Customs Nisar Ahmed told Dawn that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would start shifting the office of the airfreight unit to another place, comprising two rooms, on Monday.

He confirmed that cracks in the building had widened and the building was caving in from one side making it no longer safe to work in.

The official said the airfreight unit office was shifted to the newly-constructed building on May 1, two days before the new airport was formally opened.

But the cracks started appearing in the walls after three months.

`After a letter was written to the CAA, the authority plastered the walls to fill the cracks but alarm bells started ringing when the building started caving in a few days ago.

`How people can work under such a dangerous situation by risking their lives. It`s better to evacuate the staff.

The customs authorities informed the CAA and the project director that the building of the airfreight unit was in an extremely shabby and dangerous condition.

The building is bearing huge cracks and the gaps in the cracks are increasing with every passing day.

They said every day new cracks were identified and the building was crumbling very quickly.

The authorities said the condition of the building had made the place very insecure to sit and work in.

Every day almost 200 to 250 people come to work in the building and the situation is affecting their performance and creating hindrance in the discharge of their duties.

They also expressed their concern and said it might be dangerous for people if precautionary measures were not taken on time.

The building is also housing a post office and the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) branch where more than 200 to 300 people either work or visit during working days. All these offices would be relocated.

A CAA spokesperson told Dawn that soon after the customs authorities complained about the cracks in the building, senior experts arrived from Karachi and inspected the building.

`The CAA has provided an alternative space to the customs staff after they complained about the cracks in the building,` the spokesperson said, adding that an investigation had also been launched to find out how the newly-constructed building developed cracks.

Hardly seven months have passed since the new Islamabad International Airport was constructed at a cost of over Rs 105 billion. A number of incidents such as the collapse of false ceiling, choking of sewerage lines and stinking water in offices have occurred since the new airport became functional.

DG CAA has taken notice of high-risk and hazardous building of air freight unit at Islamabad International Airport and formed a committee for investigation. Action will be taken against people who showed negligence.

ALL any kind of type different all building anywhere in world always problem crack because of building movement, underground solid, landslide, due to nature land. if proof of earthquake should be strong better building by Japan but Germany is good quality better than China quality. In New Istanbul airport are 100% earthquake proof. Most home, apartment, office, hotel still have some crack and can repair fix it.

DG CAA has taken notice of high-risk and hazardous building of air freight unit at Islamabad International Airport and formed a committee for investigation. Action will be taken against people who showed negligence.

Abbas

The building is on the verge of collapse

Special Concept Livery to celebrate Pakistan's 70th year of Independence

Inquiry committee looking into state of customs cargo building at Islamabad International Airport

12/17/2018

RAWALPINDI: The Director General (DG) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has constituted an inquiry committee to look into complaints about cracks in the customs cargo building also known as the airfreight unit at Islamabad International Airport.

A spokesperson for the CAA said in a statement released on Sunday that following news regarding cracks in the building, the director general had already constituted a committee to look into the matter and point out the individuals whose leniency resulted in cracks appearing in the building.

The statement said: `A high powered inquiry committee has been constituted by the DG CAA and in case of any lapse in work the responsible will be dealt accordingly.

Customs authorities had already informed the CAA and the Islamabad International Airport project director that the airfreight unit was in shabby and dangerous condition.

In a letter to the concerned authorities, a customs official said the building bore large cracks that were widening every day. The condition of the building made it an insecure place to work.

The CAA has provided customs staff an alternate space after they complained about the cracks in the building, the spokesperson said.

NAB team visits Islamabad International Airport, dilapidated Customs building

By Mohammad Asghar | 12/20/2018

RAWALPINDI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team looking into allegations of corruption in the construction of Islamabad International Airport completed its inspection of the airport after checking the airport special system and baggage handling system.

Sources said the NAB team also visited the Customs cargo building also known as the airfreight unit that was evacuated after it began caving in and took photographs of the cracks and other parts of the building.

They said NAB did not ask airport authorities about the building, but they wanted to see it after news appeared in the press about the state of the new building.

The team visited the airport on Monday and Tuesday, where they inquired about the airport`s special system comprising CCTV, flight information, WiFi, two-way radio, SIMS, ACS and a public address system.

On Tuesday they inspected the airport`s baggage handling and collected data on both systems. They also took with them the material inspection report (MIR), which is prepared when imported machinery is examined after it is received by the concerned authorities.

Sources said that although the NAB team was not fully aware of technical matters, they visited the airport`s project office and examined documents relating to both systems.

A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said NAB`s visit had nothing to do with the CAA.

The CAA director general has already ordered an investigation into the cracks in the Customs cargo building and staff have been provided with an alternate space.

A Customs official said the airfreight unit office was shifted to the new building on May 1, two days before Islamabad International Airport was formally opened for flight operations. Small cracks began appearing after three months, and then widened every day.

Customs authorities were provided an alternate space for their offices after they informed the airport`s management, but they have claimed this is insufficient for them to operate smoothly.

Islamabad International Airport was built at an estimated cost of Rs105 billion, compared to an initial cost of Rs81.1bn, and made operational on May 3, 2018.

Cracks have appeared in the most premier building of the Customs Department, which may collapse anytime.

A four-member inquiry board headed by Deputy Director General of Airport Services Syed Amir Mehboob and comprising Director Projects Lahore Airport Siddiqur Rehman, Manager Peshawar Airport Ubaid-ur-Rehman and Senior Deputy Director Kamal Khan was formed but still the inquiry report had not been prepared.

A credible source, wishing to remain unnamed, in the Civil Aviation Authority, told Daily Times that the building had collapsed due to poor engineering and designing.

The source added that the soil of the tarmac was used in the filling process before the construction of the building.

“We have observed various engineering and designing faults in the building,” said an engineer, who inspected the building after it developed cracks.

When contacted, another senior official of the Civil Aviation Authority, said that the building was inaugurated in a haste. “The government wanted early inauguration of the project that was why the compaction process was avoided while constructing the building.

He, however, did not reply when Daily Times asked him whether the compaction was avoided in one building or others as well.

Farah Hussain, the spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, said that the cracks had appeared in the building. She said an inquiry committee headed by experts had been constituted to investigate the faults inside the building.

She added that when the inquiry report would be shared will be shared with the media.